LIKE IT IS

Archie, football hero, devoted father to sons

When Peyton Manning spoke to a crowd of more than 1,100 on June 1 in Little Rock, he had a very direct message to the more than 300 high school athletes who were being honored as All-Arkansas Preps by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Talent is good; hard work is better.

It resonated through his talk with Keith Jackson, but there was an underlying message, too, one that seems perfect for today, Father’s Day.

Peyton spoke of his father Archie with love, respect and admiration.

Understand, Archie is still the most-loved Ole Miss football player of all. He married Olivia Williams, a homecoming queen, and went on to play professional football for theNew Orleans Saints.

In college, he passed for 436 yards and rushed for 104 in a 33-32 loss to Alabama, and his 540 yards of total offense stood as the SEC’s single-game total yardage record until last season, when eventual Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel rung up 553 yards on the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Archie played 10 seasons for the Saints, sometimes called the “Aints,” mostly running for his life, but still managed to be sacked 340 times. Their fans wore paper bags over their heads much of that decade.

Still, he was and remains the toast of the town. He and Olivia raised their three sons quietly as possible, out of the glare of the NFL and without expectations.

“My dad never missed a game when I was growing up,” Peyton Manning said. “He always sat on the top row and never said a word. Dad never pushed us into sports, but he did encourage us. I can’t remember him ever yelling at me before, during or after a game, but I remember plenty of hugs.”

Manning did not limit his comments to his dad, and left no doubt that the home he grew up in was competitive but never hostile.

“I’ve had to face my brother [Eli, quarterback of the New York Giants] twice and I hate it,” he said seriously, then smiled and added: “I get asked all the time what colors do my parents wear and which side do they sit on when we play each other. They don’t admit it, but they pull for Eli; he is the baby and has always been the favorite.”

He couldn’t help but laugh, then added: “We compete, but I pull for my brother. We talk several times a week, especially during the season and we discuss coverages of the opponents we are playing. Do I tell our defense they have to get after him when we play? Yes, but I don’t like it.”

That kind of deep kinship is developed by loving, involved parents. His dad, who was a superstar in his own right, must have a special ego to have the courage to encourage without criticism.

Peyton included older brother Cooper in the talk, recalling that he was a speedy receiver with great hands at Ole Miss until a neck injury forced him to quit playing football.

“But he became a social legend,” Peyton said with a small laugh.

Neither Peyton nor Eli is fast. Their dad and Cooper got the speed. But Peyton and Eli got the instincts and arms to win Super Bowls, although Peyton was quick to add, “We got our work ethic from our dad.”

Family members are so involved with each other they hold the Manning Passing Academy each summer in Louisiana and all three brothers work side by side with Dad.

Yet, there was a much stronger indication of family - father and son - the night Peyton spoke in Little Rock, and it was something that was unsaid.

Peyton came to Little Rock the day before the Saturday event and spent time getting to know the city and playing golf.

Both days he had the same guy with him: his dad, who wanted no attention, but just came to support his son.

Sports, Pages 23 on 06/16/2013

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